Man Killed, Police Officer Injured in Deadly Pursuit in Annandale

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ANNANDALE, Va. (CBSDC) — A man is dead and a police officer badly injured following a pursuit in Fairfax County that ended with a head-on collision that closed portions of Little River Turnpike/Route 236 for nearly six hours early Thursday morning.

Police say the pursuit began shortly after midnight when officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 4800 block of Tapestry Drive. A man at the residence, identified as 40-year-old Cicero I. Liberea, spoke briefly with police before getting into a white sport utility vehicle and driving away erratically, authorities say.

Police say officers attempted to stop the fleeing man, who turned off Roberts Road and into oncoming traffic on Route 236. Officers continued pursuing the SUV from the eastbound lanes as Cicero drove in the same direction on the opposite side of the roadway, police confirm.

A police spokesperson says Cicero nearly struck several vehicles as he traveled at a high rate of speed for roughly four miles before crashing head-on into a cruiser, who was responding from opposite direction, on the I-495 overpass around 12:30 a.m.

Cicero, of no fixed address, was killed in the collision, police say.

The collision trapped the officer inside his vehicle until authorities were able to cut the roof off his cruiser. He was taken to the hospital with numerous injuries and is listed in stable condition.